Combining elements of Japanese sensibility with a distinctly French approach to living, Bagatelle by Hauvette & Madani articulates this dialogue through materiality, colour, and spatial relationships.
Conceived as a contemporary Parisian home shaped around togetherness, Bagatelle is a post-war house located in a quiet residential pocket of the 16th arrondissement, near the Louis Vuitton Art Foundation, the Bois de Boulogne, and its nearby namesake, Parc de Bagatelle.
Home to a family of four, the project reinterprets domestic space as a setting for gathering, relaxation, and celebration; where evenings unfold in good company, long lunches drift into dinner, and life is organised around generous communal spaces balanced by private retreat.
Spanning 280 square metres and organised across three levels, with generous living areas on the ground floor, two children’s bedrooms with a shared bathroom on the first floor, and a newly created suite on the top level, including a bedroom, bathroom, dressing room, and workspace. Throughout, fluid volumes and a restrained palette of natural materials of timber and stone establish a calm, contemplative atmosphere inspired by the architectural minimalism of Tadao Ando.
“The project translates Ando’s principles through material restraint, calm spatial sequences, and an inside–outside relationship,” Lucas Madani says. “Wood, light, and carefully framed views soften the architecture, creating an intimate and liveable interpretation suited to a Parisian family home.”
Custom-made oak kitchen by Hauvette & Madani, styled with dishes by Marion Graux, a wall lamp by Hauvette & Madani × Marine Breynaert, a floral arrangement by Muse Montmartre, and a ceramic set by L’Œil de KO.
Oak parquet dining room featuring La Coupe chairs and a Fontainebleau floor lamp from the Entremets collection by Hauvette & Madani, a custom-made table and bench seat in Dedar fabric, a glass pendant by Carlo Nason, and a fruit bowl by L’Œil de KO.
The journey through Bagatelle begins in the “green cocoon” garden. An oak door opens into the living room before the space unfolds into a glazed kitchen extension overlooking lush greenery beyond. A staircase dressed in a harlequin-patterned carpet leads to the more intimate spaces of the upper floors.
“The large openings toward the garden, bamboo, and courtyards create a strong connection to nature, a key Japanese principle, while the interiors remain deeply inviting and lived-in,” Madani says. “Upholstered seating, textiles, and curated artworks introduce warmth and intimacy essential to the French art de vivre. Rather than minimalism, the atmosphere seeks balance, where everyday life unfolds slowly and comfortably.”
While the home’s minimal design and use of timber fosters tranquillity, colour and texture punctuate the interiors. Green quartz, velvet textiles, and bespoke furniture each play a role in tempering the architectural rigour of the space.
Living room with Le Parfait chairs and Le Damier side table from the Entremets collection by Hauvette & Madani, Fontainebleau floor lamps, and curtains by Larsen.
Hanging lamp LaLoul by Chiara Colombini, Podium sofa in Dedar fabric by Hauvette & Madani, coffee table by Studio HAOS, Colonel armchair from the Entremets collection by Hauvette & Madani, vase by Emmanuel Babled from Galerie Gastou, flower arrangement by Muse Montmartre, photo by Bettina Pittaluga, picture above sofa (personal), and Kim Ellery chandelier in the library.
“Green quartz was introduced for its depth and subtle variation, bringing a mineral softness that catches the light and echoes the surrounding vegetation,” Samantha Hauvette explains. “Its green tones create a calm visual transition between the interior and the garden.”
Velvet textiles add a further sensual layer to the space, absorbing light and offering a soft counterpoint to wood and plaster. The extensive use of bespoke furniture from the studio’s own collections, combined with oak structural elements and an idiosyncratic lighting scheme, forms a particularly personal expression of the studio’s approach. “Here, architecture, interior design, and landscape are conceived as a single, coherent experience,” Hauvette concludes.
Master bedroom with custom oak headboard by Hauvette & Madani, Petites Corbeilles wall lamps, bedding by Greige, curtains by Arum Fellow, and bathroom wall lamps by Fortuni.
Bathroom with Le Sorbet ottoman by Hauvette & Madani, bathtub and faucets by The Water Monopoly, washbasin by Bleu Provence, wall lights by Fortuni, carpet from Galerie B, and curtains by A Rum Fellow.
Ipe wood flooring leads to a custom-made Hauvette & Madani front door, with an aluminium lounge chair by Studio HAOS.
